Mitchell Santner notched the inaugural five-wicket haul of the ICC World Cup 2023, guiding his team to their second triumph in the tournament. New Zealand entered the match with confidence after their resounding victory in the opener. Three of their batsmen – Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, and Tom Latham – all notched half-centuries for the New Zealand side
The Netherlands lost a couple of early wickets chasing 323 and had some hope when Colin Ackermann (69) was at the wicket, but their target proved too steep and they folded for 223 in 46.3 overs with spinner Santner taking 5-59. The 31-year-old Santner, who had provided the final flourish with a 17-ball 36 not out to push New Zealand's total, dismissed Max ODowd (16), Colin Ackermann (69), Scott Edwards (30), Roelof van der Merwe (1) and Ryan Klein (8), while Matt Henry (3/40) took three. Chasing the stiff total, the Dutch batters couldn't provide a flying start as they were reduced to 67 for 3 in 16.4 overs.
New Zealand built a good platform with Devon Conway (32), Young (70), Ravindra (51), Daryl Mitchell (48) and Latham (53) all firing and although the Dutch responded they leaked runs late on and let the 2019 runners-up post 322-7 in 50 overs. The Dutch spin-pace duo of Aryan Dutt and Ryan Klein earlier started with three straight maiden overs after they won the toss and elected to bowl although Young and Conway quickly broke the shackles to get New Zealand back on track. The aggressive Conway looked to accelerate and holed out to Bas de Leede in the deep off Roelof van der Merwe, but Young was patient and reached his sixth half-century before carting Colin Ackermann for a massive six in the 22nd over.
He continued to milk the runs off the Netherlands bowlers in the company of the in-form Ravindra but ballooned a shorter one from Paul van Meekeren straight to De Leede at mid-on. Ravindra, who hit a rapid century in the win over defending champions England, backed that effort up with a steady fifty but fell after reaching his milestone as he edged Van der Merwe off his legs to captain Scott Edwards. Mitchell and skipper Latham kept the score ticking briskly but their dismissals slowed things down before Santner struck an unbeaten 36 from 17 deliveries as New Zealand plundered 50 runs from the last three overs.
It happened in the final legal delivery of New Zealand's innings in Hyderabad when Netherlands' Bas de Leede was up against the left-handed batter. Looking for a low full toss outside off, the ball slipped out of the bowler's hand and went over the waist as Santner smashed it over deep midwicket for six. With the delivery being a no ball, Bas de Leede had to bowl again and this time he managed to stick to his plan, but the batter comfortably cleared the long-on fence for another six. De Leede was absolutely livid with himself at the sight of conceding 21 runs in the over with Santner having hit a boundary at the very first ball of the over.
Santner finished with an unbeaten 36 off 17 as New Zealand set a mighty target of 323. The spinner later starred with the ball, although it was bit of a comeback show from Santner, who was smashed for 36 runs in first five overs for two wickets. However, he bounced back impressively to pick crucial wickets in Colin Ackermann and Scott Edwards in successive overs to crumble Netherlands' hopes. He finished with five for 59, the second-best bowling figure by a New Zealand player in India.